All the News, Reviews, Guides and Reports on Electric Cars

In the jittery days when the first mainstream electric vehicles were introduced, circa 2011, there was intense public and media scrutiny about the safety and reliability of battery-powered vehicles. EV advocates were concerned about the potential long-term consequences of overblown headlines following a minor isolated incident. Now, with about 800,000 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on U.S. roads and few defects reported, the technology is proven.

Hyundai this week unveiled its upcoming long-range all-electric crossover at the New York International Auto Show. Since last fall it was known that the battery-powered version of its Kona small SUV would go on sale in late 2018. However, the Korean automaker in New York confirmed that it will carry a 64 kilowatt-hour battery pack capable of traveling about 250 miles on a single charge.

The automotive blogosphere is buzzing this week about Autocar's quote from Mamoru Aoki, Nissan's Europe-based design chief. "We have the new LEAF, but I think the production version of the IMx concept will become a breakthrough model," said Aoki. "The IMx is not just a concept car. In a few years, it will appear." Yet, details were scarce.

For most electric car drivers, it’s only a matter of time before this idea pops up: Why don’t I install solar panels so I can run my car on sunshine? Our research suggests that approximately one in three EV owners have solar panels that can generate electricity at home. Here are helpful guidelines.

For the past eight years, North American car shoppers have enjoyed generous incentives for purchasing an electric car. Depending on your location, the combination of federal tax credits and local rebates could add up to $10,000 or more. However, the sand is shifting—with lawmakers imposing tighter restrictions on which buyers, vehicles, and automakers qualify for the perks. The shift represents a new phase of EV buying, in which incentives can no longer be guaranteed.

It’s been about eight years since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency redesigned vehicle window stickers to help consumers understand the efficiency of plug-in electric vehicles. At that time, we discussed the potential confusion over dumbing down window stickers with fuel-economy terms that don’t carry over to EVs. Nearly 800,000 plug-in sales later, not much has changed.

As the first two so-called affordable long-range electric vehicles, it’s logical to think that the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3 are battling for the same customers. But there are key distinctions that belie the notion of the two cars being in a sales race. For starters—as Forbes made clear this week—the Model 3 is a “sporty, somewhat pricey sedan,” while the Bolt is a “more practical crossover-like hatchback.”

For the past couple of years, American car buyers have had exactly one choice in a long-range all-electric SUV: the $85,000 Tesla Model X. But based on stories reported in the past few weeks, three European automakers are making progress with the development of pure electric SUVs. One or more of these vehicles, previously unveiled as concepts, could go on sale in the U.S. in the next couple of years.

Subaru will introduce an all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid later this year, utilizing Toyota’s plug-in hybrid system found in the Prius Prime. The plug-in Subaru is expected to retain its longitudinally mounted boxer engine—while likely adding an 8.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack that provides about 20 to 25 miles of all-electric range.

While most automakers are developing multiple hybrids and EVs, Mazda has mostly remained on the sidelines when it comes to battery-powered vehicles. The company’s executives have insisted that its small, efficient gasoline engines provide all the necessary fuel-economy—and that future research and development should be aimed at wringing additional efficiency from internal combustion technology. However, in recent weeks, Masahiro Moro, chief executive of Mazda North America, hinted that the Japanese automaker will produce a plug-in hybrid or EV by about 2020.